15 May 2024
Bilbao Campus
Eduardo Ruiz Vieytez, a Professor of Constitutional Law, took part in the first Mataró-Europe Values Forum, held in Mataró on 15 May, where the current challenges of the European project were acknowledged, although it is believed they can be overcome. Around a hundred people attended this gathering, organised by Valors, to enhance reflection on the major topics of the European agenda, approached from a municipal perspective, which indeed are the major global issues.
The panel discussion also featured journalist Cristina Gallach, who has held positions of responsibility within the EU and NATO. She remarked, "These times are marked by significant changes, and the values of the European Union are indeed in decline." Engineer Joan Majó, who has advised the European Commission across various forums, echoed this sentiment, stating, "We are facing challenges, but we remain the global leaders in democratic and value structures." Meanwhile, Eduardo Javier Ruiz Vieytez acknowledged that "we have made a lot of progress, but there are some aspects in which we are much further behind than we thought."
During the forum, there was also discussion about whether or not (and why) the foundational values of the European Union persist. Eduardo Javier Vieytez remarked that "Some of the foundational values of the EU are more robust than others," and bringing it into the context of current affairs, he noted, "I'm not entirely convinced that we have fully embraced the values as we claim. We often attribute the erosion of these values solely to the far right, but it's worth considering the viewpoints of voters from other parties." He urged for a higher level of consistency from citizens: "The European model faces two main challenges: demographic changes and the fact that solidarity ends at the border. While we're willing to contribute through taxes to help those in need in our own communities, there's a reluctance to extend this support to individuals from elsewhere, such as Bordeaux or Tangier."
